Lions top Cardinals

[caption id="attachment_13738" align="alignleft" width="270"] Clear Lake’s Zach Tatum tries to get by GHV’s Nick Joynt, as Clear Lake’s Jarod Anderson (2) provides a block. Also pictured for GHV is Gabe Umbarger (67) and Ben Baumgard (31). -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy[/caption]

The Clear Lake Lions did what they needed to do Friday night.  The Lions eliminated turnovers, established an offense and played stellar defense against one of Class 2A’s most productive teams.  That added up to a win over district-leading and ninth ranked Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, 13-6.  The victory created a three-way tie for the District 2 title between Clear Lake, GHV and Hampton-Dumont.

All three begin post-season play tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 28).  Based on points, GHV (7-2, 5-1) finished as the top seed in the district and will host New Hampton (4-5, 3-3).  As the number two seed, Hampton-Dumont (7-2, 5-1) will host North Polk (5-4, 4-2).  Clear Lake (5-4, 5-1) will travel to Aplington-Parkersburg (7-2, 5-1).  Estherville-Lincoln Central (3-6, 2-4) is the fourth team from the district to move on.  The Midgets will be on the road to Southeast Valley (7-2, 5-1). All games begin at 7 p.m.

Coach Jared DeVries called Clear Lake’s Friday night win over GHV “a character building moment.”

“We had to lick our wounds and get after it,” he said, referring to the team’s response to a 39-point loss the week before at Hampton.  “I was anxious to see what kind of fight they would come out with.”

The Cardinals came out swinging in the first quarter.  On the first play from scrimmage GHV fullback Cade Baker broke loose for 77-yards, hauling the ball all the way to the Lion three-yard line.  Two plays later the Cards scored on a quarterback keeper.  The extra point was blocked, making the score 6-0 under one-minute into the contest.

The Lions moved the ball to the Cardinal 37 on their first possession, but turned it over on downs.  It looked like GHV might quickly return to the end zone when the district’s leading rusher, Connor Shaw, strung together a series of runs that ultimately took the Cards to the Lion five.  Then, on third and goal Ryan Atkinson sparked the Lion defense.  He wrapped up Shaw for a loss, forcing a critical fourth down.  The entire Lion defense forced an incompletion on the next down, ending the threat.

Pinned deep in their own territory, the Lions couldn’t get past the 35 and punted the ball away.  Again, the Lion defense came up huge, forcing Shaw to fumble the ball.  Zach Tatum pounced and gave the Lions the ball on the GHV 23.  Tatum ran the ball twice and the Lions evened the score early in the second quarter.  Jarod Anderson’s PAT gave Clear Lake the lead, 7-6.

Both teams struggled to move the ball in the second quarter, but clearly momentum had swung to Clear Lake’s side.  The Lion defense held GHV to a mere 12-yards in the second quarter.

It only got tougher for the Cards in the second half.  They ran just seven plays and had zero yards of offense in the third quarter and only 13-yards in the fourth, finishing with 156-yards in the game.

A 21-yard field goal by Anderson gave the Lions a 10-6 lead under the two-minute mark in the third quarter.

The Lions’ swarming defense pinned the Cards deep in the own territory to start the fourth.  After Ace Walton delivered a blow to a GHV ball carrier and Tanner Berger tipped a pass attempt away, the Cards were three-and-out for the sixth time in the game.

An interception by Thomas Storbeck had the Lions back in business midway through the final quarter, however the GHV defense stopped the threat on the three and forced another Anderson field goal.  It was good, putting the score at 13-6.

GHV still had time to tie the score, but Berger again leveled Shaw and caused him to fumble, giving the ball back to the Lions.  Anderson missed on a 31-yard field goal attempt which would have sealed the win, but an interception by Tatum did the job two plays later.

Tatum finished the game with an overall strong performance. On offense, the senior ran the ball 20 times for 63-yards.  He had one reception for nine-yards, scored a TD, made an interception, two fumble recoveries and punted five times for an average of 37.4-yards.  He was credited with two assisted tackles.

Storbeck, filling in for the injured Zach Lester, completed two of eight pass attempts for 14-yards.  He ran the ball 17 times for 10-yards and had one interception on defense.

Full back Carter Garrington was the leading ground-gainer for the Lions with 75-yards on 13 carries. Parker Pitzen rushed twice for four-yards and Nick Eggers had one carry for -8-yards.

Garrington was also a key piece of the Lion defense with four solo and one assisted tackle.  Ben Mason and Parker Pitzen also had four solo tackles each, with Mason also getting in on three others.  Atkinson, Walton and Dalton Grell had three solo tackles apiece.  Garrington, Atkinson, Walton, Pitzen and Nate DiCamillo all had solo tackles for losses.

The Cardinals were led on offense by Cade Baker with 96-yards on eight attempts, followed by Conner Shaw with 54-yards on 17 attempts.  Harley Forry picked up nine yards on one attempt and quarterback Lucas Prohaska had negative seven yards on six attempts and the team’s lone touchdown.

Leading the Cardinal defensive effort was Baker with 11 tackles and two sacks, followed by Nick Joynt with eight and one- half tackles; Chase Theobald had five and one-half tackles; Connor Smith and Conner Shaw had five apiece; Ty Marth recorded five tackles and one and one-half sacks; Tucker Datema had four and one and one-half sacks; Matt Sonquist recorded three tackles  and assisted on a sack.  Ben Baumgard with three tackles and one sack; Gabe Umbarger finished with three and one-half sacks and Grady Umbarger with two and one-half tackle.

“My hats off to Clear Lake – they came ready to play,” said GHV Head Coach Scott VanDusseldorp. “They did a nice job containing our running game and got a well-deserved victory.  We need to bounce back. Playoffs are a one-and-done situation, so we have to come well prepared.”

Coach DeVries said his quarterback, Zach Lester, was cleared to practice this week and it will be a game time decision as to who will start for the Lions against Aplington-Parkersburg.  Likewise, Justin Sholly, who was out last week with an ankle injury, may return to the lineup.

“A-P is a talented, physical team, but if our guys play with intensity it will be a good game,” said DeVries.  The trip to Parkersburg is a bit of a homecoming for the coach, who played his high school ball at A-P.  However, he downplayed the return to his football roots.  “A-P is a special place for me, but this is really about the kids and I’m excited for them and their chance to achieve their goals and dreams.”